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The fourth installment of SITE Global’s acclaimed inSITEs series, Destination inSITEs, reveals emerging preferences for new and unique destinations, highlighting a growing focus on safety, security, and cost considerations.
Read the latest Work Trend Index highlights the importance of taking regular mental breaks, revealing how these pauses can support brain health, boost productivity, and enhance overall well-being in today’s high-demand work environments.
Soundings’ CEO and Founder, Tracy Judge, dives into powerful strategies for driving growth and resilience in associations, highlighting how community connections and a spirit of innovation can redefine success and create lasting impact.
A new Freeman trends report measures the gaps between the way organizers design their event programs and the preferences of a new generation of event attendees — and what the most innovative event organizers do differently.
Halloween is quickly becoming a major player in the event industry, rivaling other major holidays. Explore why this spooky season is capturing the hearts of event professionals
Freelancing can be rewarding, but it often comes with a sense of isolation. This article explores the challenges of freelancer loneliness and offers tips on creating a strong, supportive network
Stress at work can push our nervous systems into “survival mode,” leading to a perpetual feeling of being overwhelmed. Techniques for switching off survival mode can easily be woven into our daily routines.
Unionized hotel workers in Boston began a three-day strike this week, while nine other cities could see similar walkouts with little warning. Meeting groups using those cities should be ready to get creative.
Too often we make the mistake of thinking attending a workshop or getting a certification is the long and short of career development. In reality, it’s just one part of the equation.
Event professionals were invited to discuss long-standing industry practices that may need a fresh approach. Explore their insights on which 'sacred cows' of the events industry should be reevaluated and what innovative alternatives could take their place.
The freelance boom in the events industry is here to stay, according to Soundings Founder & CEO Tracy Judge. She dives into the shift toward agile, flexible staffing models and how they're revolutionizing talent strategies in business events.
From compressed timelines to hotel rates, event profs share the biggest challenge they're facing right now.
Many senior women meeting planners and department heads are better at ‘making it happen’ than promoting their value to the C-level. Their jobs could be at risk because of that.
At the core of this year’s IMEX America is the overarching theme of “impact.” But what about the impact we are making on our industry’s rising talent and young professionals? That’s where mentorship comes into play.
Whether you lost a job or an opportunity, or are simply facing a personal challenge, your ability to respond (and how likely you are to bounce back) can be shaped by the way you talk to yourself.
From florists and fabricators to entertainment, lighting, and gifting experts, these event vendors and suppliers are enhancing live experiences in unique ways.
Staying ahead of the competition requires a flexible and efficient approach to project management. Explore the benefits of incorporating agile methodologies and how to successfully implement them.
Destination management companies come equipped with tons of resources—here's how to better work with them.
Anyone can learn to communicate more effectively—and it can have a profound impact on your quality of life and career trajectory.
Three industry veterans, with their fingers on the pulse of corporate meetings, share their insights on how workplace culture may be forever changed.
Super Bowl LVIII will take place on February 11 in Las Vegas, with sustainability as a top priority for hosts and organizers.
Recent research shows that experiencing awe and wonder can positively affect our mental and physical health, ultimately benefiting our personal and professional lives. With the right perspective, and a little bit of effort, we can teach ourselves to generate childlike wonder in all sorts of places.
ChatGPT isn’t the only AI tool that should be in your toolbox. Peep the thousands of other AI tools that have been released since the generative AI boom.
The work of events organizers is more important than ever, says innovation expert Shawn Kanungo, but he asks: Are you willing to disrupt yourself to stay competitive?
Learn how to improve the essential skill of active listening including reading body language, maintaining your attention, and controlling your emotional response to others.
Compare your independent meeting planner practices, pricing strategies, and earnings with those of your peers.
If small talk and striking up a convo with a stranger doesn’t come naturally, these techniques & strategies can help make initiating conversation and networking a little easier.
Adaptability is a part of the job! From snafus at celebrity birthday parties to a relay race with armadillos, event profs dished on the bizarre, funny, and weird client requests that would only happen in the world of events.
The latest cutting-edge trends in one place! Use the roadmap to refresh your business approach for 2024 – and beyond.
Read curated content for Thrive members.
Supporting young talent in the industry is an ongoing priority for Soundings. We do this by listening to the perspectives of the incoming generations and promoting a culture of cross-generational collaboration.
Why should you care about worker classification as a freelancer? Here’s everything you need to know about recent labor regulations, how it impacts you, and how to protect yourself so you continue to get work.
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in the future of work; they are essential to maintaining innovative, successful teams.
Unsure of how to prepare for filing your taxes as an independent contractor or employee? View our checklist of resources to make filing your taxes easier.
We’ve rounded up the top 8 articles of 2022 for freelancers including education, tips and trends to carry into the new year.
Revive and Innovate: Vision for the Future, Part 5 – Event professionals are community builders. Learn how leading organizations are prioritizing community building in the event industry and the implications for attendee experience.
Revive and Innovate: Vision for the Future, Part 4 – The future is physical and digital. Soundings Founder Tracy Judge shares the insights she gained from connecting with industry leaders about the future of the industry and how we can prepare for a continually shifting event model.
Revive & Innovate: Vision for the Future blog series, Part 3: There is a global shortage of talent We explore the impact this talent shortage has on the industry, what it means for the future of the industry, and how we can solve for it.
Revive & Innovate: Vision for the Future blog series, Part 2: Partnerships are critical for growth. We discuss the unique but crucial shift in partnership that must take place for us all to be successful in the event industry.
Revive & Innovate: Vision for the Future blog series. Part one: DEI & Sustainability Go Hand in Hand
In support of World Mental Health Day, we curated a list of mental health tips and resources to help event planners avoid burnout and focus on the work they love to do.
The rise of the freelance economy and voluntary attrition presents an opportunity to bring Gen Z talent into the event industry.
Stay up to date and prepare for the future of work with Soundings’ State of Talent report.
As the industry changes, event professionals must upskill and stay current on industry certifications. Learn how to stand out from the competition and remain relevant in the changing industry.
Talent in the event and hospitality industry must stay up to date on the latest certifications, technologies, and expertise–not only to stand out from the competition but also to help meet customers’ needs in the changing work landscape.
CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // Across all aspects of the industry, labor shortages will cause anything from headaches to cancellations for the foreseeable future. Now that the pandemic is receding, Tracy Judge, Founder & CEO of Soundings, is no longer ahead of her time in raising the alarms about how short-staffed teams are going to operate events.
The economy is changing constantly, and with these changes business is being conducted in new ways. Freelancers will need to keep up to date on new technology and soft skills in order to thrive in this competitive job market. Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer many free opportunities to level up! Learn the newest project management systems, earn a certificate in instructional design or marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization). The Pandemic Protocol Certification is especially useful. Learn more about the Pandemic Onsite Protocol training by MPI here. Cvent is one of the leading technology providers offering solutions for virtual and hybrid events. Cvent now offers free courses for Meeting Professionals through Cvent Academy.
Live Meetings are coming back but what has changed? Hotels and service may look a little different than we are used to. Here is what we noticed. Hotels Rates Are Not Competitive Surprisingly, hotel space is more limited. Many cancelled events from 2020 have been re-booked for 4th quarter 2021 and 2022. As a result, hotel space is selling at a premium. Many travelers assume that hotels are reducing rates to attract guests but, they don’t need to.
Many are anxious to meet again but are we ready for live meetings? Whether it is a live or hybrid event, meeting professionals can create a safe environment for attendees and staff with proper planning and preparation. When sourcing meeting locations, ask for the current safety policies and emergency plan. How are they preventing infection?
COVID-19 has forced many event and hospitality professionals to think about new ways to generate income, and long-time corporate employees are opting to take advantage of freelance/contract opportunities. Whether it is project management or virtual event planning, freelancing has become popular for both the company needing help and the professional seeking project-based work.
Do you love the idea of freelancing, but also love the perks of corporate world benefits?
In addition to salary, employer sponsored health insurance, a retirement account, and paid vacation are standard benefits of full-time employment. These benefits are the main reason professionals choose the employee model vs freelancer.
You don’t have to give up all benefits to become a freelancer! As a best practice, add 15-30% to your rate to offset costs like payroll taxes, 401k match, insurance and workman’s compensation. As a freelancer, your rate should include the cost of providing those items yourself.
EXHIBIT CITY NEWS // Soundings and Virtual Events Institute are joining forces to offer affordable and readily accessible learning opportunities for freelance meeting and event professionals racing to meet the demand for versatile skill sets and virtual event experience.
At Soundings, we believe product and service solutions have the highest impact when everyone wins. The Soundings Thrive Platform Playground was created to be a “triple win” for organizations, freelancers, and our platform partners.
Learn more today.
CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // In an effort to connect the many dots—that draw a picture of 2021—VEI has forged a partnership with talent platform Soundings that will benefit all affected groups. Under their new brand, Soundings Thrive, a vibrant members-only freelance community, the company is collaborating with VEI to offer offering additional education and networking opportunities for freelance event professionals to help them become workforce-ready for assisting virtual and hybrid events.
EVENT CADENCE // Collaborative partnerships that create win-win situations for both parties are becomingly increasingly important. Partnerships help find and recruit adept talent for multi-channel market growth, and they harness creativity and innovative thinking for new avenues of inspiration.
We are excited to announce our partnership with Event Cadence for the next Platform Playground Mock Events program!
SMART MEETINGS // COVID-19, social distancing and furloughs, oh no. It has been a troubling year for those working in the meetings and hospitality industry, with pandemic precautions resulting in huge economic loss—and unfortunately, many unforeseen career changes. Throughout the year, Smart Meetings has been posting resources for the business owners, employees and independent planners navigating their way through this new reality. Whether you are job searching, adding new skills or trying to keep your business afloat, take a look at the best Smart Meetings career articles of 2020 can offer you some guidance.
CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // Take a behind the scenes look at how Soundings Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, live-streamed her presentation for the 2020 Intrado Digital Media Summit.
Live-streamed from Rev Studio in La Jolla, CA.
SMART MEETINGS // Earlier this year we launched Soundings Thrive, a platform providing tools for freelancers to stay relevant in the marketplace and accelerate their business. Since the launch, our primary focus has been to help freelancers embrace their potential in the virtual event world.
Read about the top 5 things we have learned from launching the Platform Playground mock events program for freelancers.
THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL // Soundings Connect Founder + CEO, Tracy Judge, breaks down the questions and concerns meeting professionals should consider before they take their next steps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the November 2020 edition of The Meeting Professional magazine.
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Join the Soundings Connect team to learn more about Soundings Thrive and have a casual conversation about the future of freelancing. Come with your cocktail or mocktail of choice and any questions you may have!
Join the Soundings Connect team to learn more about Soundings Thrive and have a casual conversation about the future of freelancing. Come with your cocktail or mocktail of choice and any questions you may have!
Join the Soundings Connect team to learn more about Soundings Thrive and have a casual conversation about the future of freelancing. Come with your cocktail or mocktail of choice and any questions you may have!
Join the Soundings Connect team to learn more about Soundings Thrive and have a casual conversation about the future of freelancing. Come with your cocktail or mocktail of choice and any questions you may have!
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Your interests don’t fit in a box, and neither should your career. If you’re considering a career change or desire more professional freedom, this article is for you!